Connecting device.



n. D; GORDON. CONNEGTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 14, 1911.

1,0]1v,066.y Patented 0015.15, 191.2.

,immonet srrifrns PATENT onirica.

Y DAVID D. GonDoN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

l coni-anca:river` DEVICE.

- 4 Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 15,1912.

` Application led' September 14, 1911. Serial No. 649,278.

Chicago, Ainthe county offCook and State of.4v "Illinois, have invented a Vcertain new and useful'lmprovement in Connecting Devices, ofvw'hieh the Ifoll'owin'gis a` full, clear, conciseiand; exact description, reference being had'to'theaccompanying drawings, forming a partffo this specification.

My' vention relates to connect-ing devices andinfone of its 'forms is of particular utility in connection with plugs suchl for instance as may be used in connection with ordinary sockets of the incandescent lamp type.

My invention contemplates a connecting device of'tliis character which has two conducting element-s which are adapted tor as-v sociation vwith two coperatin conducting` elements, the arrangement being such in one-, form of the invention that when one conducting element -is bein associated withI its' correspondinghconducting element, the second conducting element is automatically forccgdinto conducting position with its coperating conducting element. When used in connection 'with a plug, the arrangement is such 'that' when the plug is being inserted into a s0cket,.the act of insertionautomatically en ages conducting elements which would@ :ot erwisev not come intol contact' as the plug is smaller than the socket to .which it is applied.

My invention is capable of a variet of ap lications and by speccally descri ing it erein as applied to a specific kind of plug, I do not wish it understood that I- am so limiting my invention. This specication is to be lunderstood as setting forth one form which my invention may take.

-I will dcribe a plug constructed in accordance with my' invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a plug constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on lines arf--a` of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the plug mechanism, and: Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. l'with the plug shown inv its normal condition when removed from the socket. 0

yMy improved plug comprises an .outerI 1nsulating portion consisting of the. shell 1 and base portion 2 which in the form shown herein are preferably integral. A plunger 3 is mounted in'theshell 1 and is normally held in its extended position as shown in Fig. 4 through the agency of'a spring 5. A screw. 6 .put 'in place after the -plunger 3 has been Yinserted limits by` its being confined within the slot 7 the in and out motion of the plunger 3. The plunger carries the central contact 8 which is metallically associated by means of the screw 9 with a conducting portion 10 -carrying a screw 11 for purposes of attachment to the lead in wire 12. The plunger has a slot 13 within which the spring 5 projects. The plunger 3 also carries a second conducting element 14 bent what might be said to be substantially U shaped in that it consists of the two llegs 15 and the yoke portion 16. The legs 15 are dished as shown at 17 and here fit into grooves 18, 18 provided for thisdished por- 'tion in the plunger 3. A screw 19 holds the conducting portion 14 in place and a screw 20 is lprovided with which the lead in wire 22 is adapted for association. The shell 1 has vtwo tapering holes'therethi'ougli 28, 23 in which balls 24, 24 are carried and are prevented from falling out of the shell by the inclined holes 23. These balls 24 are conducting and roll against the legs 15, 15 of 4the conducting element 14.

`When the plug is in its normal position of Fig. 4, the balls are carried in the dished portion 17 of these legs 15, the spring 5 having pressed the plunger out to its farthest extension. The plug is adapted for association with a socket 25 havingthe center contact 2G and the side screw threaded contact 27 as is customary with the ordinary form of socket. The contact 26 is adapted for association with the contact 8 of the plu and the balls 24 are adapted when presse outwardly 'to engage the screw .threaded contact 27 to 'connect said contact with .the U shaped element 14. Thus the lead in wires 12 and 22 are connected through the plug to associate themselves respectively with the contact 26 and the contact 27.

1n the general operation of the.plug, the plug being in the normal condition o Fig.' 4, the plug is inserted in the circuit 25 until the contact 8 engages the contact 26, where after the -plug is pressed farther into the socket, thiis pushing the plunger inwardly' against the spring 5 and forcing the ballsl me ami screwing she odnaify scew hfeaded pop tion im@ Scmw @a1-ed scket.

'While have harem sho-Wn and speci wily describe@ @nefam which mymfenton may miie, do not Wish w mt myself i0 this specc osrm as the invention is capabl of many derent modifications and appcations, but

E fave poog mi n. Contact @1215i 7 :and Spring cn'o-ed means Wheeby 3.113 pungel @Ont'os the Oum/zuid muvemet of Said spherical contacts.

l plug having a oase pofml and a, a, Contact alemania Cariedf'by said controls 'tha ouwadi mwanam '51? spherical camgacs said Blawg includ' ncined Conducting eemen A.

4. A@ ping having a porsionan a piange??y a Contact eemen @fried by sai@ plunger, movable sphrea contacls ca'ie 5 A plug having a bals-e pc'ion and a, plunger? a Contact dement carried by .Smid

ment ,of said spherical czmiacts, said means DAW@ D, @@RBUNgzgmg.

by the base, and contoe means' pungere movabe spherical Contacts carried.

by the plunger cont'ols the Outwmdmovwj ncudng an inclined conducting efememg and means "provided v1n said base hod Sad N SQptamber', A. E 

